John deLancie Movies

Things go from breaking bad to breaking worse for Walter White (Bryan Cranston), the cancer-stricken chemistry teacher, and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), his former student and partner-in-crime, in Season 2 of the drama about two methamphetamine cookers. Having watched drug dealer Tuco (Raymond Cruz) "beat a dude to death...for nothing," Walt and Jesse decide they need to cut ties with the psychotic pusher. Impetuous Jesse devises a half-baked plan of attack, but cooler-headed Walt has a more surefire way to get rid of Tuco. Once free of him, Walt and Jesse face a new pair of problems. First, their business takes a financial hit, and second, Walt's brother-in-law, DEA agent Hank (Dean Norris), gets a major break in the investigation into the meth ring-and it just may put Walt and Jesse in his crosshairs. In response, Walt cooks up an elaborate ruse that has him spinning intricate webs of deceit and misdirection, while a rattled Jesse establishes a shaky alibi that places him in Hank's sights. To get their product back on the streets, Jesse organizes a crew of dealers, and one of them is jacked by two drug-addled losers who make off with his stash and cash. Arguably the season's most riveting episode, it ends in a shocking scene of crushing finality. Meanwhile, on the home front, Skyler (Anna Gunn) is extremely concerned about Walt's mysterious disappearances. When he finally makes overtures to reconnect with the family, she keeps him at arm's length, still wondering what he's been up to while he was away. As for Jesse's personal life, he once again finds himself on the streets, and his quest for living quarters not only proves successful, but lands him a girlfriend as well. ~ Ray Stackhouse, Rovi

Milo Ventimiglia (of the blockbuster TV series Heroes), headlines this dark crime thriller, which marks the sophomore directorial outing of Marc Schoelermann, following the 2006 telemovie Hexxx. Ventimiglia portrays a young intern, newly arrived at the University Hospital in Philadelphia, who stumbles onto a psychopathic group of colleagues playing a vile game. They regularly select one of their members (on a rotational basis) to commit the "perfect murder," while the rest use forensic methods to try to determine exactly how the homicide was executed. Alyssa Milano (of TV's Who's the Boss? and Charmed) co-stars as Ventimiglia's fiancée, while thesps Johnny Whitworth and Lauren Lee Smith are among the perpetrators. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (of Crank fame) scripted. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

As punishment for helping the Avatars, Leo (Brian Krause) has his memory wiped clean and sent back into the world to start helping people all over again. Although he doesn't know exactly who he is or what has happened, Leo is still expected to make a crucial choice: either permanently remain a Whitelighter Elder or lose his powers, become a mortal, and live with Piper (Holly Marie Combs). Unfortunately, Leo is unable to assist Piper at a time he is needed most: she has lapsed into a coma after a demon attack. As she hovers between life and death, Piper experiences a spectral vision of a former love (welcome back, Julian McMahon!). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Out of boredom, one of the magic school students conjures up the spirits of Lady Godiva (Kristen Miller) and her age-old nemesis, Lord Dyson (Maury Sterling). If you know your English history, you'll know that Lady G. rode naked through the streets of Coventry to protest Dyson's despotism. Now on the loose in the present, Dyson intends to kill Godiva before she can make the ride that will destroy his power -- and thus the Charmed Ones must come to the rescue of the Unclad One. And in a related development, Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) strips for action as she follows Lady Godiva's example on behalf of contemporary feminism. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Leo (Brian Krause) is ordered by his fellow Avatars to protect the demon seer Kira (Charisma Carpenter) in order to obtain information necessary to vanquish all other demons. At the same time, the Charmed Ones share Kira's latest vision, leading them to believe that the best of all possible worlds will be one ruled by the Avatars. Meanwhile, Kira's fellow demons release the dreaded, all-powerful Zankou (Oded Fehr, in his first series appearance) to counteract her "treason"; and Paige (Rose McGowan) and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) are diametrically opposed in their feelings toward the "helpful" Brody (Kerr Smith). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

John de Lancie returns as Beka Valentine's (Lisa Ryder) redoubtable uncle Sid Barry, originally introduced in the first-season episode "he Pearls That Were His Eyes". Somewhat incredibly, the larcenous Sid is a candidate for an important political post in the New Commonwealth. Things take a sinister turn when Sid is murdered by a jealous opponent--or is he? Incidentally, the title of this episode translates as "Who Benefits". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Love, sex, and food combine in this sensuous romantic comedy. Isabella (Penelope Cruz) is a master chef who suffers from severe motion sickness, requiring her to be in control of her movements at all times. This need extends to the bedroom, but her husband Tonino (Murilo Benicio), who owns the restaurant where she works, doesn't like to make love in the fashion suggested by the title. This is hardly the only thing about their relationship that she finds stifling, and when Isabella discovers Tonino in bed with another woman, she leaves for America, where with the help of cross-dressing friend "Monica" (Harold Perrineau Jr.), she becomes a star as the host of a TV cooking show, Passion Foods Live. Woman on Top was the first American film from Venezuelan director Fina Torres. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

"1000 Tons of Steel! 200 Lives at Stake! 100 Miles per Hour! One Man to Stop it!" That's the situation as set up by the ad campaign for the thrill-packed TV movie Final Run. The action takes place on board the Grand Royale, a luxury train controlled by a supercomputer created by a shady electronics firm called American Rail. Inevitably, human error causes the computer to suffer a glitch -- and as a result, the Grand Royle speeds precariously out of control. It is up to hero Glen "Lucky" Singer (Robert Urich) to stop the train and rescue the human cargo of TV-movie stereotypes. Curiously, the original TV Guide listings for this film failed to provide a synopsis, perhaps assuming that the title spoke for itself. Final Run premiered October 10, 1999, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Disgruntled, and highly dangerous, ex-KGB agent General Vostok once again poses a threat to mankind. On this occasion, Vostok has armed himself with the weapon that defeated Napoleon at the gates of Moscow -- a "freeze bomb." Holding the other team members hostage, Vostok demands that Dr. Quest make the weapon even more deadly than before. Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame is heard as the villainous Vostok. "General Winter" was first broadcast on March 26, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Making a return visit to the Czech republic, Jonny and Jessie stumble across the manuscript of an incomplete sonata. This leads to a close encounter with a troubled ghost who intends to prevent a wealthy wastrel from reaping the benefits of an old family secret. A gruesome finale is but one of the many highlights of "The Haunted Sonata," which originally aired on March 18, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Apparently intended to be shown right after the 1996 Real Adventures of Jonny Quest episode "Bloodline," "The Bangladore Falcon" was held back from release until February 14, 1997. While touring Bangalore, India, the Quest team teenagers find a rare falcon, which may or may be not be able to lead the kids to the legendary city of Shambala. Also expressing an inordinate interest in the falcon are the beautiful but lethal twin daughters of the team's old nemesis Dr. Zin. Lucy Liu, here billed as Lucy Xavier Liu, provides the voice of Melana Zin.

~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Having some fun with Questworld's virtual reality capabilities, Jonny and Jessie challenge each other to a three-dimensional digital game. Unfortunately, their enjoyment is spoiled by the interloping Jeremiah Surd, who has a deadly game of his own in mind -- and on his own turf, "Surdworld"! "Digital Doublecross" made its cable TV debut on February 12, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi